Global Ethics Corner: The Cuban Embargo Turns 50: Time to Rethink U.S. Policy?

The U.S. embargo on Cuba turned 50 this week. That makes it the longest-running
economic embargo in the world. It is also the most contentious.

Last October, the UN General Assembly issued its 20th annual call to end the
sanctions on Cuba. Today, a majority of Americans support the reinstatement
of diplomatic ties with Cuba. Most would like to see the travel ban lifted,
and about half are in favor of ending the trade embargo.

But U.S. policy on Cuba is unlikely to change. Half a century after President
Kennedy issued his controversial order, neither President Obama nor his Republican
rivals are looking to reverse the status quo.

After all, the Cuban government has consistently repressed political opposition
and refused free and fair elections. Though the Communist Party has taken some
steps to liberalize the state-run economy, it has done little to liberalize
its politics. Since taking office, Cuban President Raul Castro's leadership
has remained both stable and anti-democratic.

For embargo critics, this is precisely the problem. They argue that Cuba no
longer poses a military threat to the United States. The embargo's ambition
to penalize this lone communist stronghold is merely a remnant of the Cold War
era. In fact, the viability of Cuba's communist government is testament to the
failure of the U.S. policy. Rather than punish Castro and hasten change, the
embargo only penalizes the Cuban people, depriving them of sorely needed medicine,
food, and medical equipment. The embargo has also harmed the U.S., depriving
it of a potentially lucrative trading partner.

As the U.S. embargo on Cuba turns 50, where do you stand? Should the U.S. revise
its policy on Cuba?